The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A game-clinching 27 clearance from Mick Ayres (O7) helped Spalding and District Snooker League Division One leaders Holbeach A beat Holbeach D 4-2 to extend their lead at the top of the table.
In a game that also saw Mick Pearl (O14) and Jem Merrison (O35) make breaks of 27 and 22 respectively in frame victories, Ayres (O7) held his nerve to beat Ian Woodberry (O7) 54-13 in the final frame to move the table-toppers three points ahead of Services E and Bourne SC A.
The Spalding side slipped to a 4-2 defeat at home to Consti B, despite a top individual display from Vince Fitter. The O14 handicapper made breaks of 35 and 31 to bag a frame win, but ended up on the losing side as John Keeton (O14) saw off Jason Rose (O21) on the final black of the game.
Fellow title hopes Bourne SC A also went down 4-2 at Holbeach C. Frame wins from Dan Ashton (O7), Nick Edwards (scr) and Mark Gregory (O21) early on got the job done for hosts Holbeach.
Elsewhere in the top tier, a fine 30 clearance from Neil Reynolds (O49) steered Donington C to a 4-2 triumph at Consti F. Mat Turner (O21) added a 29 break, while Ben Wrigglesworth (O21) and Neil Favell (O14) also weighed in with breaks of 26 and 21 respectively.
Basement boys Boundary B were handed another defeat, with Pyramid B pipping them 4-2. A 22 break from Jason Green (O70) helped him win a black-ball game for the Bourne boys.
In Division Two, leaders Services C were handed their fifth loss of the campaign as they went down 4-2 at Whittlesey C. The close clash went down to the final black of the match, with Mick Blythe (R7) seeing off Kev Fitter (O21) 71-67 to clinch the points.
That allowed second placed Boundary C to move level on points with them at the summit following their 5-1 success at Donington B.
Long Sutton B also closed the gap on the pace-setters with a 5-1 win of their own over Services A. Carl Parnell (O28) was their star man with a 21 break.
However, Gosberton A lost ground after suffering a 6-0 home whitewash against Consti G.
Down in Division Three, red-hot leaders Crowland C reeled off a 5-1 home success against Consti J.
Three of the frames – including those won by Jim Howe (O42) and Jeff Roberts (R14) – ensured that it was a closer game than the scoreline suggests.
Second-placed Consti I lost three more points on their rivals after slipping up 4-2 at home to Whittlesey B.
Kay Skutela (R21) starred with an 18 clearance for the victors in that one.
The score was also 4-2 as third-placed Consti C suffered a defeat at Pyramid E, while Services B defeated hosts Consti D by the same scoreline.
Meanwhile, Donington D enjoyed a 5-1 success at Consti A to climb the table and a 22 clearance from Norman Gookey (R7) helped Gosberton C beat hosts Bourne SC B by the same score.
